Children with special needs in the Croatian educational system

Inclusive education implies that all children have different (special) needs which have to be met. The prerequisite for meeting those needs are legal regulations related to the education of children with special needs that are continually updated in accordance with the current scientific data. The aim of this research was to determine whether there are differences in legal regulation on two levels: vertical – a comparison of two subsystems (early childhood education and care and primary and secondary education) and horizontal – a comparison of two subgroups (children with disabilities and gifted children). The research conducted a qualitative comparative analysis of primary data sources (legal acts regulating the education of children with special needs in the Republic of Croatia).The analysis showed that there is better regulation within the school education system than in the early and childhood education and care system. Also, there is better regulation relating to children with disabilities than to gifted children. The obtained results indicate the need to regulate the legal acts of the education systems and groups in order to meet children’s needs.